St. Thomas Man Charged with Federal Firearm Offenses

St. Thomas, USVI – Lued Browne, 44, made his initial appearance in District Court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged in a two-count Indictment with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in a school zone, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Browne was detained pending a detention hearing on August 27, 2015.

According to the Indictment which was filed August 6, 2015, in District Court on St. Thomas, Browne was found in possession of a firearm on the grounds of Antilles School. Browne was previously convicted in the District Court for the Northern District of Florida of armed bank robbery and use or possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

If convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Browne faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Additionally, Browne faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for possession of a firearm in a school zone, to run consecutively to any other sentence.

This case is the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.

United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that an Indictment is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.